Gold for India! Prachi Gaikwad Wins 50m Rifle 3P at ISSF Junior World Cup
Synopsis
Prachi Gaikwad pulled off a stunning comeback to win gold in the junior women's 50m Rifle 3P event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Cairo, edging AIN's Darya Chuprys by just 0.2 points. Combined with Naraen Pranav's bronze and a dominant showing across events, India has surged back to the top of the medal tally.
Key Takeaways
Prachi Gaikwad won gold in the junior women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions event with a final score of 354.6 , beating AIN's Darya Chuprys by 0.2 points at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Cairo, Egypt .
Naraen Pranav claimed bronze in the junior men's 10m Air Rifle with a score of 229.5 ; Uzbek Javohir Sokhibov won gold with 251.2 .
India's first gold came from Shiva Narwal in the junior men's 10m Air Pistol on April 21 , the opening day of competition.
India leads the overall medal tally with 2 golds, 4 silvers, and 3 bronzes as of April 24, 2025.
Vanshika Chaudhary (579), Sejal Kamble (577), and Kanak (576) hold the top three spots in the junior women's 10m Air Pistol qualification, with the final set for 8:30 PM IST Thursday .
Prachi was the only Indian qualifier for the women's 3P final and entered sixth before staging a dramatic comeback to win gold.
Prachi Gaikwad delivered a clutch performance to claim gold in the junior women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions (3P) event at the ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The Indian shooter edged out Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) Darya Chuprys by a razor-thin margin of 0.2 points, firing 354.6 in the final against Chuprys's 354.4. The victory pushed India back to the top of the overall medal tally at the prestigious tournament.
Prachi's Comeback in the Final
Prachi Gaikwad was the sole Indian qualifier for the junior women's 3P final at the Olympic International City Shooting Range in Cairo. She entered the final in sixth place with a qualification score of 578, and after the first 10 Kneeling position shots, she was placed fifth.
She surged to second after the Prone round, sitting just 0.6 points behind the then-leader Darya Chuprys. Prachi then fired a 50+ on the first five shots of the Standing position, seizing the lead for the first time in the match.
However, Chuprys fought back with a stunning 51.0 over the next five shots, while Prachi missed the 10-ring four times, temporarily dropping to third with just five shots remaining. Undeterred, Prachi responded with four 10-ring hits — including two high 10s — to clinch gold by 0.2 points. AIN shooter Elena Kretinina claimed bronze with a score of 343.3, exiting after the 34th shot of the 35-shot final.
Naraen Pranav Secures Bronze in Junior Men's 10m Air Rifle
Naraen Pranav added another bronze to India's haul in the junior men's 10m Air Rifle event, finishing with a final score of 229.5. Three Indians had qualified for the final — Naraen at third (630.9), Abhinav Shaw at fourth (630.0), and Divyanshu Dewangan at seventh (626.8).
Divyanshu was the first Indian eliminated, exiting in eighth place with a score of 122.4 after just 12 shots. Abhinav and Naraen then battled for the bronze position against Uzbek shooter Javohir Sokhibov and Cypriot Achilleas Sophocleous, who occupied first and second respectively.
A critical 9.9 from Abhinav on the 20th shot ended his medal hopes, while Naraen fired a composed 10.7 and 10.9 to lock in bronze, finishing 0.4 behind Sophocleous after the 22nd shot. Sokhibov dominated to win gold with 251.2, a full point ahead of the Cypriot.
India's Medal Tally and Position
This gold was India's second of the tournament, following Shiva Narwal's victory in the junior men's 10m Air Pistol on the opening day, April 21. Combined with four silvers and three bronzes, India has reclaimed the top spot on the overall medal tally — a significant statement of the country's growing dominance in junior shooting.
This performance reflects the depth of India's junior shooting pipeline, which has been systematically developed through Sports Authority of India (SAI) academies and national coaching programs. India's consistent medal haul at ISSF junior events over the past three years signals a strong generation ready to challenge on the Olympic stage.
Women's Air Pistol Final on the Horizon
India's medal charge is far from over. Vanshika Chaudhary, Sejal Kamble, and Kanak have all qualified for the junior women's 10m Air Pistol final, occupying the top three spots on the leaderboard with scores of 579, 577, and 576 respectively. The final was scheduled for 8:30 PM IST on Thursday, giving India a strong chance of adding more hardware to their collection.
With three shooters in the top three positions, India enters that final as the overwhelming favourite — a scenario that could further extend their lead at the summit of the medal standings.
Bigger Picture: India's Junior Shooting Surge
India's performance at the 2025 ISSF Junior World Cup is part of a broader, sustained rise in Indian shooting. Notably, at the Paris 2024 Olympics, India's senior shooters claimed multiple medals, including gold, signalling that the sport has matured from individual brilliance to systemic excellence. The junior circuit is now producing athletes who combine technical precision with mental resilience — as Prachi's comeback in the final vividly demonstrated.
Critics and coaches alike point to the expanded Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and increased international exposure as key drivers. With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics on the horizon, performances like these will be closely watched by national selectors identifying the next generation of Olympic medallists for India.
Point of View
Not just in qualification. The fact that India occupies the top three spots in the women's Air Pistol final leaderboard simultaneously is not luck; it is the dividend of structured investment in grassroots and elite development. What the mainstream narrative often misses is that these medals are being won against Individual Neutral Athletes — many of whom are Russian and Belarusian shooters competing without their national flag — meaning India is effectively beating some of Europe's best while flying the tricolour. With Los Angeles 2028 approaching, the national selectors now face the enviable problem of an embarrassment of riches.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in the junior women's 50m Rifle 3P at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025?
India's Prachi Gaikwad won gold in the junior women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Cairo, Egypt. She scored 354.6 in the final, edging AIN's Darya Chuprys by 0.2 points.
What is India's medal tally at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 in Cairo?
As of April 24, 2025, India has won 2 golds, 4 silvers, and 3 bronzes , placing them at the top of the overall medal tally. The gold medals came from Shiva Narwal (men's 10m Air Pistol) and Prachi Gaikwad (women's 50m Rifle 3P).
How did Naraen Pranav perform at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025?
Naraen Pranav won a bronze medal in the junior men's 10m Air Rifle event with a final score of 229.5 . He qualified third with 630.9 and held off teammate Abhinav Shaw to secure the podium finish.
Which Indian shooters qualified for the junior women's 10m Air Pistol final in Cairo?
Vanshika Chaudhary (579), Sejal Kamble (577), and Kanak (576) all qualified for the junior women's 10m Air Pistol final, occupying the top three spots on the leaderboard. The final was scheduled for 8:30 PM IST on Thursday.
Where is the ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 2025 being held?
The 2025 ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun is being held at the Olympic International City Shooting Range in Cairo, Egypt . The competition began on April 21, 2025.
